The United States Postal Service has announced their planned stamps to be issued for 2021, and while there are no explicit comic strip or cartoon characters being honored as there was this past year, there is a cartooning related set of stamps that looks great. The four fun designs on this new pane of 20 […]
I usually add a short video at the end of each post, but today I’ll be adding a long one — an hour and 10 minutes — because Ann Telnaes and Kal Kallaugher, with the help of David Folkenflik, held an extraordinary discussion of political cartooning as journalism as part of the Santa Fe Council […]
Since Mike doesn’t do politics on Fridays, I guess I’ll go there.President Trump, when cast as a comic book character, is most often portrayed as some version of The Incredible Hulk. Rich Ragsdale has spoofed Trump by placing him on various comic book covers emulating the characteristics of DC, EC, Dell, and Marvel (yes, including […]
While we avoid politics on Friday, the term “funnies” doesn’t preclude serious commentary, of which this Non Sequitur (AMS) is a good example.There are all sorts of comics about masks and social distancing, and some are silly, which is fine, since escapism is a good thing as long as it doesn’t lapse into denial.And we’re […]
I’ve updated this list of cartoons, cartoonists and their Patreon and other support pages. You don’t have to support them all, of course, but, if you like the medium, you should choose some favorites and back them up!********************** A fellow named Rickey Scott got in touch with me at CSotD and offered to compile a […]
Historical articles gathered from the past week. The comic strip Fluffy Ruffles debuted in the Sunday edition of the New York Herald on February 3, 1907, and was syndicated in the American press, such as in the Omaha Bee and the San Francisco Call. Although the comic strip lasted only two years (the last installment […]
Cartoonist and comics historian Ed Black has passed away. Joseph Edward (Ed) Black March 12, 1944 – November 26, 2020 From the obituary:Ed served in the U.S Army during the Vietnam War. Ed worked for the Mahoning County Clerk of Courts. Prior to the clerk of Courts Office Ed was a Bailiff for Judge Economus. He […]
Noting the adage that one is never too old to make new friends the Ginger Meggs comic strip, in its 99th year, has introduced a new character this week. © Jason Chatfield; Ginger Meggs ™ Winslow Investments Pty LtdSays cartoonist Jason Chatfield:Gloria is a bright and energetic young Aboriginal girl who loves nothing more than […]
Stuart Carlson (AMS) picks up on a twisted saying that I’ve just noticed entering the conversation, and which we need to nip in the bud.It’s different than my oft-raged-upon misuse of “rats leaving a sinking ship,” of which I spotted two examples today, both by cartoonists I greatly admire. As noted before, there is some […]
Amusement and pleasant surprises – and the laughter they can trigger – add texture to the fabric of daily life.Those giggles and guffaws can seem like just silly throwaways. But laughter, in response to funny events, actually takes a lot of work, because it activates many areas of the brain: areas that control motor, emotional, […]
Animator Helen Komar has passed away.Helen (Sobkow) KomarSeptember 4, 1927 – November 27, 2020 From the obituary: Helen was an accomplished artist who enjoyed illustrating, cartooning, and portraiture. She was a master of pastel, pencil, oil and acrylic mediums. Millions of people are unaware that they have seen her animated work on TV and in movies. […]
Forbes‘ list of The Highest-Paid Dead Celebrities of 2020 include two cartoonists. Charles Schulz, with his Peanuts empire, is a regular member of this group since his death twenty years ago. Helping Schulz to remain on the list this year was a nice Peanuts deal with Apple TV+ (you may have heard about the Peanuts […]
We’re entering the holiday season, which is normal, but still in lockdown mode, which, of course, is not, and Joe Heller (AMS) remarks on a year that has somehow managed to have troughs without peaks.Which is, of course, ridiculous: You can’t have troughs without peaks. It’s just that the troughs seemed very low and the […]
With Thanksgiving over and by now all your Christmas shopping done it’s time to start thinking about 2021 – and calendars. Certainly many people are thinking about next year, about half the best sellers on the Amazon comic strip book list are calendars at the moment. The Far Side has two in the Top Ten!Over […]
Pam Sander, the Southeast Regional Editor of Gannett newspapers has announced a mid January 2021 change in the Sunday comics sections of her papers in The Carolinas: Even in an age of digital-first media, the print comics have an important place in our lives. We know how sacred they are to you. That’s why we’re […]